Pursue the theme, and you shall find A disciplin'd and furnish'd mind To be at least expedient, And, after summing all the rest, True friendship has, in short, a grace More than terrestrial in its face, That proves it Heav'n-descended: Man's love of woman not so pure, Nor, when sincerest, so secure To last till life is ended. ON THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE. WRITTEN WHEN THE NEWS ARRIVED. [SEPT. 1782.] To the March in Scipio. TOLL for the brave! The brave that are no more! All sunk beneath the wave, Fast by their native shore! Eight hundred of the brave, Whose courage well was tried, Had made the vessel heel, And laid her on her side. A land breeze shook the shrouds, And she was overset; Down went the Royal George, With all her crew complete. Toll for the brave! Brave Kempenfelt is gone; His last sea-fight is fought; His work of glory done. It was not in the battle; No tempest gave the shock; She sprang no fatal leak ; She ran upon no rock. His sword was in its sheath; His fingers held the pen, When Kempenfelt went down, With twice four hundred men. Weigh the vessel up, Once dreaded by our foes! And mingle with our cup The tear that England owes. Her timbers yet are sound, And she may float again, Full-charg'd with England's thunder, And plough the distant main. But Kempenfelt is gone, His victories are o'er; And he and his eight hundred, Shall plough the wave no more. IN SUBMERSIONEM NAVIGII, CUI GEORGIUS REGALE NOMEN, INDITUM. PLANGIMUS fortes. Periêre fortes, Patrium propter periêre littus Bis quatèr centum; subitò sub alto Navis, innitens lateri, jacebat, Malus ad summas trepidabat undas, Cùm levis, funes quatiens, ad imum Plangimus fortes. Nimis, heu, caducam Fortibus vitam voluêre parcæ, Nec sinunt ultrà tibi nos recentes Nectere laurus. Magne, qui nomen, licèt incanorum, At tuos olim memorabit ævum Omne triumphos. Non hyems illos furibunda mersit, Fissa non rimis abies, nec atrox Abstulit ensis. |